2 partitions gone!


  1. Posts : 254
    Windows 8.1.1
       #1

    2 partitions gone!


    Hi. I'm running Win7 HP with all latest updates. I have a single 500gb disk, partitioned as C:\ Windows 7, D:\Editing and E:\Data Backups.
    I was working last evening quite happily, when I noticed a lot of disk activity and the system slowed down. I tried rebooting and as it got to the desktop, I noticed that Acronis non-stop backup flashed an alert to say that E:\ was unavailable. I checked further and discovered that both my D:\ and E:\ partitions weren't showing in Explorer.
    I tried Easeus Partition Recocovery,which 'found' 416 partitions, only one of which (C:\) was classed as high for recovery. Window is running OK on C:\ anyway so I closed Easeus.
    I did notice when I tried to do a system restore that there was an update that may have coincided with the high disk activity and slowing down but when I checked the update list, nothing was shown for that date and time.
    Is there a way to recover what appears to be a damaged partition table?
    My 2 lost partitions now show as 'unallocated space' so how would it be if I created a single partition, using all that space and calling it E:\ so that it becomes my Data Backup partition. I think I can manage without what was on D:\.
    If my data is still there, will creating the new partition retain the data from both lost partitions? Obviously, I will not format the new partition!
    I also noticed that System Restore failed, 'might be due to an anti-virus program'. I turned off Norton IS 2010 but restore still failed, although I didn't expect it to solve the problem.
    Many thanks if someone can assist please.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 914
    Windows 8 Pro
       #2

    Have you tried turning off Norton's Product Tamper Setting? (Should be somewhere in Administrative Settings)

    I'm not quite sure if System restore will revert your corrupted partitions, but it's worth a shot.

    You're best bet though is to invest in an external HDD to keep your important data on.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails 2 partitions gone!-capture-3.png  
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 254
    Windows 8.1.1
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Thanks for the quick response. I've had a quick look in Norton Internet Security 2010 but didn't see a Product Tamper setting, it was a very quick look though.
    Sadly, I do already have an external HDD, but I have made the stupid error of not keeping it up to date, and it serves me right.
    I do have Mozy Backup Online which I'm hoping will recover my important stuff, also Evernote.

    Update:

    I found the Product Tamper Setting and it was already on, so I guess that is not why System Restore fails to work.
    Last edited by bertie11; 10 May 2010 at 11:05. Reason: updating my comment
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 11,408
    ME/XP/Vista/Win7
       #4

    Check your hard drive with a diagnostic tools.
    Hard Drive Diagnostics Tools and Utilities (Storage) - TACKtech Corp.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 254
    Windows 8.1.1
    Thread Starter
       #5

    Theog.
    I've been running Seagate Tools for most of the day and nothing is showing as faulty, but I don't know if Seagate would find missing partition tables anyway? It seems that is what I need to do, which is why I asked what would happen if I just created another partition from the unallocated space. What I am not sure about is though, would my data still be in the unallocated space or would the data have been lost along with the partition data?
    Thanks
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 914
    Windows 8 Pro
       #6

    bertie11 said:
    Update:

    I found the Product Tamper Setting and it was already on, so I guess that is not why System Restore fails to work.
    You want to turn the Product Tamper Setting off for System Restore to work correctly.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 254
    Windows 8.1.1
    Thread Starter
       #7

    Doh! Of course.
    Even so, with it turned off Sytem Restore still failed.
    When I uninstslled NIS 2010 only then did Restore work so I need to talk to Symantec.
    I was unable to recover the partitions I lost, but was able to work round by collecting my data from offline backups and external disks. I did lose a couple of folders but not a big deal to lose them.
    Lesson learnt!
    Thanks.
      My Computer


 

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